Amy T.
Brooks
Amy T. Brooks, the firm’s Administrative Partner, is a member of the Education Law practice group. Her practice focuses on advising school administrators regarding legal issues in general school law, student services, and special education.
Let's Talk
Fax: 610-828-4887
Amy T. Brooks is a highly respected and experienced member of the Education Law Bar in Pennsylvania. She is widely regarded as possessing an exceptional knowledge of Pennsylvania School and Special Education law, having attended hundreds of Section 504 and IEP meetings on behalf of school districts and charter school clients. Regularly appearing in front of all of Pennsylvania’s Office for Dispute Resolution Special Education Hearing Officers, Ms. Brooks also represents school boards and attends school board meetings. Her successful track record has been hailed by colleagues and clients alike who value her extreme attention to detail and passion for strong advocacy. Ms. Brooks builds strong relationships with her clients through daily interactions on matters of concern.
In the courtroom, Ms. Brooks routinely litigates for school clients in administrative and local agency proceedings up through the appeals process. She has successfully defended multiple schools against legal claims such as those brought under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as representing Schools in investigations by the PA Department of Education and US Office for Civil Rights.
Ms. Brooks actively brings practical and knowledgeable experience from her previous career and involvement in the educational community into her practice. She serves on the Board of Managers of Haverford College in addition to heading the Haverford College Corporation. Ms. Brooks also serves as President Elect for the Pennsylvania School Board’s Solicitor’s Association and is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. She is frequently called upon to teach fellow education lawyers about the newest developments in the practice.
Ms. Brooks advises schools regarding sexual harassment and gender equity involving Title IX, bullying and harassment investigations under Pennsylvania’s Anti-Bullying Law, student records and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), issues of risk management, matters of child abuse and reporting under the Child Protective Services Law, and homelessness under the McKinney Vento Act.
She is a contributing editor to the Pennsylvania School Law Handbook, published by the Pennsylvania School Board Association, and handles matters regarding the Public School Code of 1949 such as transportation, enrollment, residency, custody, discipline, charter schools, Pennsylvania Approved Private Schools, and private schools.
Ms. Brooks is a former teacher and collegiate coach and is a graduate of Haverford College and Temple University Beasley School of Law where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review. She resides in Chester County with her husband, Dr. Michael Brooks, and children.
Representative Matters
Recent due process hearing successes:
• Hearing Officer denied all requests for compensatory education and tuition reimbursement under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act for a student who was making progress in a District yet unilaterally placed in a private school requesting the District to pay the tuition.
• Successfully represented District who was found not to have discriminated against a student under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act when they refused to adopt and warned a family not to use an educational methodology (Spelling 2 Communicate). The District was not required to pay compensatory education or for the family’s education of their child using the methodology.
• Successfully represented District in a residency matter before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals where a family was living in Maryland yet sought payment for DC private school from the Pa. School District. Ms. Brooks won the threshold issue of the family not being considered a resident of the District.
On a regular basis:
• Represents school entities during investigations conducted by compliance offices such as the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or the Office of Civil Rights alleging discrimination based on disability or race.
• Drafts and advises school entities on their policies and administrative procedures.
• In-services school administrators, teachers, and other special education service providers in areas of special education compliance and strategy.
• Represents school entities to resolve education related disagreements with parents.
• Represents school entities in other kinds of administrative hearings through the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in education claims such as tuition reimbursement and compensatory education claims.
• Represents school Districts in non-residency hearings to exclude students attending our client schools illegally.
• Represents School Entities in student disciplinary matters.
• Counsels school entities in successfully navigating the charter school application review process including hearings on charter applications.
Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Education
Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law (J.D. 2005)
Temple University School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (M.Ed., Sport and Recreation Administration, 2001)
Haverford College (B.A., Political Science, 1992)
Professional and Civic Memberships
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Montgomery Bar Association, Chair of Education Law Committee (2019)
Pennsylvania School Boards Solicitor’s Association, President Elect
PSBA Secretary (2021-2022)
PSBA 2016 Region 11 Director (2016 – 2020)
Haverford College, Board of Managers (2013 – Present)
Clerk of the Haverford College Corporation (2018- Present)
Westtown School, Board of Trustees (2014 – 2020)
Friends Fiduciary Corporation, Board of Trustees
Radnor Hunt Pony Club, Board of Directors
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Interim Clerk of the Quaker Life Council (2017 – 2020)
Campaign Treasurer for Gail Weilheimer for Judge, successful 2013 campaign for Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas judicial election
Speeches and Publications
“Special Educations Legal Ethics Conversations: Remote Working, Malpractice Coverage, Privacy, Clients, and Conflicts.” Presenter. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 14, 2022.
“Legal Ethics in a Remote World.” Presenter. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 15, 2021.
“Ethical Considerations in Special Education.” Presenter. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 2020.
“Solutions to Modern Day Ethical Predicaments.” Presenter. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 25, 2019.
“Strategies for Containing Special Education Attorney Fee Claims.” Presenter. School Law Workshop. Pennsylvania School Board Association. October 16, 2019.
Pennsylvania School Law Handbook. Contributing Editor. Pennsylvania School Boards Association. 2018, 2023.
“Now You See Them. Now You Still See Them: Student Residency Issues.” Presenter. The Pennsylvania School Board Solicitor’s Association Annual School Law Workshop. October 17, 2018.
“Ethical Considerations.” Presenter. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute, October 8, 2018.
“Ethical Issues in Special Education Settlement and Due Process Hearings.” Co-Presenter. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 30, 2017.
“Ethics: Divorce and Custody Issues.” Co-Presenter. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 7, 2016.
“Special Education Law for School Psychologists-Comprehensive Evaluations.” Lower Merion School District. May 27, 2016.
“Ethical Issues for Special Education Lawyers.” Exceptional Children’s Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 26, 2015.
“What Does an Instructional Assistant/Behavioral Aide Need to Know?” Lower Merion School District. June 2015.
“Ethical Issues for Attorneys in the IEP Meeting Process.” Exceptional Children’s Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 27, 2014.
“Section 504 In-Service.” Lower Merion School District. November 2014.
“School Law, An Examination of Current Critical Topics in School Law.” Pennsylvania Bar Institute. November 8, 2013.
“Section 504: What You Need to Know.” Upper Perkiomen School District. October 16, 2009.
“Getting a Child into School and Keeping Her There: The Laws Governing School Enrollment and Student Discipline.” Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 2, 2009.
“Records: What Need to Know About Right To Know and Other Laws.” Co-Presenter. Pennsylvania Association of Pupil Services Administrators Conference. April 23, 2009.
“The Upper Dublin Debt Act Referendum: A Series of Fortunate Events.” Pennsylvania School Boards Association School Solicitor’s Symposium Summer Conference. 2007.
“Student and Staff Issues in Extra Curricular Activities.” Co-Author. Pennsylvania School Boards Association Bulletin. February and April 2006 (Two-part series).
Amy T.
Brooks
Amy T. Brooks, the firm’s Administrative Partner, is a member of the Education Law practice group. Her practice focuses on advising school administrators regarding legal issues in general school law, student services, and special education.
Let's Talk
Fax: 610-828-4887
Amy T. Brooks is a highly respected and experienced member of the Education Law Bar in Pennsylvania. She is widely regarded as possessing an exceptional knowledge of Pennsylvania School and Special Education law, having attended hundreds of Section 504 and IEP meetings on behalf of school districts and charter school clients. Regularly appearing in front of all of Pennsylvania’s Office for Dispute Resolution Special Education Hearing Officers, Ms. Brooks also represents school boards and attends school board meetings. Her successful track record has been hailed by colleagues and clients alike who value her extreme attention to detail and passion for strong advocacy. Ms. Brooks builds strong relationships with her clients through daily interactions on matters of concern.
In the courtroom, Ms. Brooks routinely litigates for school clients in administrative and local agency proceedings up through the appeals process. She has successfully defended multiple schools against legal claims such as those brought under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as representing Schools in investigations by the PA Department of Education and US Office for Civil Rights.
Ms. Brooks actively brings practical and knowledgeable experience from her previous career and involvement in the educational community into her practice. She serves on the Board of Managers of Haverford College in addition to heading the Haverford College Corporation. Ms. Brooks also serves as President Elect for the Pennsylvania School Board’s Solicitor’s Association and is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. She is frequently called upon to teach fellow education lawyers about the newest developments in the practice.
Ms. Brooks advises schools regarding sexual harassment and gender equity involving Title IX, bullying and harassment investigations under Pennsylvania’s Anti-Bullying Law, student records and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), issues of risk management, matters of child abuse and reporting under the Child Protective Services Law, and homelessness under the McKinney Vento Act.
She is a contributing editor to the Pennsylvania School Law Handbook, published by the Pennsylvania School Board Association, and handles matters regarding the Public School Code of 1949 such as transportation, enrollment, residency, custody, discipline, charter schools, Pennsylvania Approved Private Schools, and private schools.
Ms. Brooks is a former teacher and collegiate coach and is a graduate of Haverford College and Temple University Beasley School of Law where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review. She resides in Chester County with her husband, Dr. Michael Brooks, and children.
Representative Matters
Recent due process hearing successes:
• Hearing Officer denied all requests for compensatory education and tuition reimbursement under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act for a student who was making progress in a District yet unilaterally placed in a private school requesting the District to pay the tuition.
• Successfully represented District who was found not to have discriminated against a student under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act when they refused to adopt and warned a family not to use an educational methodology (Spelling 2 Communicate). The District was not required to pay compensatory education or for the family’s education of their child using the methodology.
• Successfully represented District in a residency matter before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals where a family was living in Maryland yet sought payment for DC private school from the Pa. School District. Ms. Brooks won the threshold issue of the family not being considered a resident of the District.
On a regular basis:
• Represents school entities during investigations conducted by compliance offices such as the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or the Office of Civil Rights alleging discrimination based on disability or race.
• Drafts and advises school entities on their policies and administrative procedures.
• In-services school administrators, teachers, and other special education service providers in areas of special education compliance and strategy.
• Represents school entities to resolve education related disagreements with parents.
• Represents school entities in other kinds of administrative hearings through the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in education claims such as tuition reimbursement and compensatory education claims.
• Represents school Districts in non-residency hearings to exclude students attending our client schools illegally.
• Represents School Entities in student disciplinary matters.
• Counsels school entities in successfully navigating the charter school application review process including hearings on charter applications.
